Uhuru Kenyatta wants TSC panel to recruit chair

Kenya: President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended the mandate of the panel recruiting senior staff for the Teachers Service Commission (TSC).

In a gazette notice, the President now wants the Prof Karega Mutahi-led team to also hire the TSC chairperson. “In the exercise of the powers conferred in me by section 8(1) of the Teachers Service Commission Act, 2012...declare a vacancy in the office of the chairperson to the Teachers Service Commission,” reads the addendum.

Kenyatta says the panel he selected to recruit five Commissioners to the TSC ‘will additionally select suitable candidates for the position of chairperson.

Salome Gichura, currently holds the position in an acting capacity. She is among three Commissioners appointed by the President last year. She took over from Lucy Njeru, who exited TSC in June, 2013.

The six-member selection panel is chaired by former Education Permanent Secretary Karega Mutahi.

He is deputised by former Education PS George Godia. Other members are John Kipkorir, Esther Muhanji, Joseph Chirchir and Jean Njeri Muhoho.

The panel’s main role was to recruit persons to replace former Commissioners David Kuno, Rose Mogoi Sereti, Meshack Llanziva, Monica Kilonzo and Lucy Njeru who vacated their offices two years ago.

The team on Thursday requested for applications to fill the TSC positions in paid up advertisement in local dailies.

However, sources familiar with the process said the President’s move is likely to be challenged in court as he had been advised to pick names from the list prepared by the previous panel.